Dear Friend, Today, I interviewed the Reverend Canon regarding the death of Gavin Casto and Yankel Rosenbaum. I visited him in the rectory office at St. Mark’s Church in Crown Heights, which was small but very well-ordered. He was obviously a very accomplished man, as he had plaques and awards all around his office. He was very well-dressed, and throughout the interview I continually heard the church bells ringing and the rustling sound of him fidgeting with the corner of his paper calendar. I was quite intrigued by his sophistication throughout interview. He told me how the Rebbe was always escorted, or whisked as the Reverend put it, because he had received death threats from the Satmars. The reverend found the Rebbe’s escorts unnecessary. The Rebbe once told him he was an “intuhnational figuh” – like a Pope! to which the Reverend responded, “Why don’t you get the Swiss guards to escort you rather than using the police and taxpayers’ money?” Even when he just walked through the neighborhood he had a team protecting him. When discussing the deaths of Gavin Casto and Yankel Rosenbaum, he remained very matter-of-fact. He did not seem to react in anger, the way many did. He was concerned that the riots that occurred following the deaths were going to happen again and again. His final words in the interview about the riots are still with me: “There’s a Mexican standoff right now. But it’s going to happen again.” When portraying this character on stage, I hope to have a small office set that seems just as sophisticated as this man’s character. I almost felt that I was in the office of an elderly British man, and I wish to convey that feeling to the audience. I wish to portray his character with justice because this man realized the severity of the situation rather than picking sides. I hope you will enjoy the production, and I hope you enjoy this character.
Today, I interviewed the Reverend Canon regarding the death of Gavin Casto and Yankel Rosenbaum. I visited him in the rectory office at St. Mark’s Church in Crown Heights, which was small but very well-ordered. He was obviously a very accomplished man, as he had plaques and awards all around his office. He was very well-dressed, and throughout the interview I continually heard the church bells ringing and the rustling sound of him fidgeting with the corner of his paper calendar. I was quite intrigued by his sophistication throughout interview. He told me how the Rebbe was always escorted, or whisked as the Reverend put it, because he had received death threats from the Satmars. The reverend found the Rebbe’s escorts unnecessary. The Rebbe once told him he was an “intuhnational figuh” – like a Pope! to which the Reverend responded, “Why don’t you get the Swiss guards to escort you rather than using the police and taxpayers’ money?” Even when he just walked through the neighborhood he had a team protecting him. When discussing the deaths of Gavin Casto and Yankel Rosenbaum, he remained very matter-of-fact. He did not seem to react in anger, the way many did. He was concerned that the riots that occurred following the deaths were going to happen again and again. His final words in the interview about the riots are still with me: “There’s a Mexican standoff right now. But it’s going to happen again.”
When portraying this character on stage, I hope to have a small office set that seems just as sophisticated as this man’s character. I almost felt that I was in the office of an elderly British man, and I wish to convey that feeling to the audience. I wish to portray his character with justice because this man realized the severity of the situation rather than picking sides. I hope you will enjoy the production, and I hope you enjoy this character.
Best wishes,
Anna Deavere Smith